In today’s highly digital world, web traffic is your key to success. If you want your startup or SME to be found by your target audience, you need a strong and engaging online presence. Otherwise, your business is as good as invisible.
That said, here are three powerful ways to build your digital presence and attract the right customers.
Develop a strong SEO strategy
In today’s digital world, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is probably the most powerful and affordable way to establish a strong web presence. When done right, it can help businesses attract quality traffic and bypass competitors.
Simply put, SEO is the process of improving a website’s search engine rankings. Search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing crawl the internet for content. All the information they found is indexed. Once a web page is indexed, it is now qualified to be displayed as a result for related search queries. When a user performs a search, search engines scan their index for content that can solve the searcher’s query. Results are ordered by relevance. Generally, the higher your ranking, the more relevant the search engine believes your page is to the query, and the more visible you become to your target customers.
This is exactly why marketers love SEO. It brings in customers who are actively seeking out your product or service, therefore increasing your chances of conversion.
Another benefit of getting higher rankings on the search engine results page is building brand awareness. Potential customers are more likely to click through brands that appear on the first page of search engine results.
A successful SEO strategy takes a lot of research. You must know your target customers very well including their motivations, needs, and pain points. This will be the basis for your keyword selection. Incorporating relevant phrases and keywords into your web content allows users to find your page via search engines. In other words, optimizing for search means speaking the same language and keywords as your potential visitors.
Build a user-friendly website
In an age where everything from shopping to booking flights is done online, a website establishes your company’s credibility. People are more likely to trust you and buy your products if your website is attractive and fully functional.
Consider your website as your online business address. It’s the central point of interaction between you and your customers. Websites give businesses their own unique identity.
That said, websites that are easy to navigate are more likely to grab and hold attention from visitors. Easy navigation means information should be accessible and pages must have fast loading speeds. Moreover, the website must provide tools to simplify navigation even further. For example, including a search box enables users to type in what they need and instantly be directed to the right page.
The effectiveness of your website relies on its design and development. The simpler and cleaner the pages, the better. Overcrowding each page with too much information or complex designs can overwhelm the visitor and drive them to leave.
After Google’s shift towards mobile-first indexing, it would be a grave mistake to neglect mobile optimization. Ensuring your website is fast and scalable across all devices will help you rank higher and turn more clicks into paying customers. In addition, your website must be tested regularly for bugs and other issues that may affect your loading speed.
Invest in paid search
Small businesses face a range of challenges including building a loyal customer base. One way to overcome this hurdle is to take advantage of PPC management services.
PPC or pay-per-click is a type of online ad that takes the form of banners, pop-ups, and search results. PPC campaigns follow a bidding system, letting you decide how much to spend. It also gives you better control of when and where your ads show up. This provides your business with greater targeting power and increases your chances of making a sale.
The truth is, building organic traffic takes time. This can pose a problem for smaller businesses looking to build brand awareness and boost sales as soon as possible.
Unlike SEO, PPC ads rank immediately, meaning you can drive relevant traffic much faster. All you have to do is set up your campaigns and you’ll start getting clicks in no time. The increased visibility can connect you with likely buyers and increase opportunities for conversion.
PPC is a great choice for startups with smaller budgets. Instead of paying a fixed amount, you only pay if someone clicks on the ad. You also have the option to set a spending limit on your campaign. This way, you get to maximize your ad spend with guaranteed results.
The hardest part of running a business is the beginning. But thanks to the internet, reaching your business goals has never been easier. Implementing the right digital tools and techniques will keep you headed in the right direction.
